I’m willing to bet the scientific method 400 years from now will differ from today’s understanding of science more than today’s science method differs from the proto-science used 400 years ago. A sensible forecast of technological innovations in the next 400 years is beyond our imaginations (or at least mine), but we can fruitfully envision technological changes that might occur in the next 50 years.

Based on the suggestions of the observers above, and my own active imagination, I offer the following as possible near-term advances in the evolution of the scientific method.

Compiled Negative Results

This is interesting. One of the core failings of modern science is its focus on "exciting" results. It turns what should be a methodological pursuit of the truth into a popularity contest in which people keep secrets and cut corners to reach interesting answers and gain fame and fortune. A failed experiment is just as useful as a successful one ifr your goal is to understand, and we now have the information technology needed to make use of a vast increase in the volume of published results. Some culture changes could be positive.

Kevin Kelly -- The Technium